Dance and event centre in a factory building

A group of private investors wants to establish the very first sports arena in the Hungarian capital that is dedicaded to international dancesport events and also can be the center of dance education of Hungary. Kristóf Vanyur's thesis gives an answer for this question.

The project deals with the revitalization and rethinking of an old and famous industrial plant in the heart of Budapest. The old factory building was built in 1923 in Óbuda. The location of the project is situated between heavy car and railway transportation and the Danube itself. Using the cultural traditions of Óbuda, the institution gives planty of possibilities to teach and learn the wide range of different kinds of dances.

click on image to open the gallery

The design of the interior proportions follows the Hungarian and also the international regulations of dancesport competitions. These conditions also fit the regulations for theatrical plays and events which can also be held here. The locations and the proportions of the different functions inside are consistent. The visitors and the competitors enter the building separately and use the most accessible areas of the building. The students can enter the dance studios on the top floor. The managing offices are opening from the galery and the maintenance area is in the basement.

click on image to open the gallery

The main concept of the design was to keep the facade walls and the beautiful iconic 55 meter tall chimney of the old factory and build a new building shape that can highlight and emphasize the beauty of the old industrial structures. The new building shape ’sits’ on the old brick walls, and flows around the chimney which has been converted into an elevator shaft.

click on image to open the gallery

The most exciting aspect of the building are the new ’clothes’. The brick-textured perforated black metallic panels on the facade show and hide the inner content in the same time, following the inside functions and the play of light and shadow produces a unique experience for the visitors. With this new institution and the urbanistic transformation, this area can easily be reutilized in the near future.

When designing this farm house-like home, András Varsányi, Péter Pozsár and Norbert Vas considered some major factors: minimalist ground-plan and the integration of basic forms – yet keeping in mind that a warm and intimate atmosphere is what they want to achieve.